Honda Accord Takes Early Lead as America’s Most Popular Car in 2014 Based on Retail Registrations

5/22/2014 5:00:00 PM

Accord leads all passenger cars in retail new-vehicle registrations to individual car buyers for first three months of 2014

Accord, Civic, CR-V and Odyssey are #1 in segment in retail new-vehicle registrations

Accord is leading in the effort to repeat its 2013 performance as the most popular new car with individual American car buyers. Through the first three months of 2014, four of Honda's five top-selling models  Accord, Civic, CR-V and Odyssey  each led their segments in retail registrations for the first quarter of 2014, according to a Honda analysis of new vehicle registration data from IHS Automotive.

These same four Honda models earned top retail registrations status for the full year in 2013, with Accord earning the title of America's most popular car based on retail registrations, and Civic and CR-V achieving both retail and outright best-selling status in their respective segments.

"We're thrilled to be leading the pack in the first lap around the track in 2014," said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda Division. "In a business environment marked by intense competition and heavy incentives, we want to thank our Honda customers for the trust they continue to place in our products."

Highlights for the Honda brand in the first quarter of 2014 include:

Excluding full-size pickups, the Accord, Civic and CR-V held three of the top five slots  first, third and fourth, respectively  in registrations among individual car buyers in the first quarter of 2014.

The Accord, with retail registrations totaling 78,355 units through March, maintained a narrow lead of less than 1,000 units over its nearest competitor. Retail registrations accounted for 98.4 percent of all Accord registrations for the period, according to Honda analysis of IHS Automotive registration data.

Civic retail registrations of 70,677 units led all small cars, beating the closest segment competitor by more than 10,000 units.

CR-V retail registrations rose 3.9 percent to 67,773 units compared to the first quarter last year, giving CR-V a more than 7,000-unit lead over the #2 selling vehicle in the segment.

Odyssey retail registrations of 27,748 units made it the top choice among retail minivan customers.

About Honda
Honda offers a full line of reliable, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive automobiles for American car buyers through approximately 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The Honda lineup includes the Accord, Crosstour, Civic, Fit, CR-Z, Insight and FCX Clarity passenger cars along with the Pilot, Odyssey and CR-V sport-utility vehicles, the Ridgeline pickup and the Odyssey minivan. Honda has the highest brand fuel economy1, the most top safety-rated2 vehicles and the longest-lasting cars3 of any mainstream automotive brand in America. Honda also has been producing automobiles in America for more than 30 years and currently operates 15 major manufacturing facilities in North America. In 2013, more than 94 percent of all Honda and Acura vehicles sold in U.S. were made in North America, using domestic and globally sourced parts.

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1Based on model year 2012 fuel economy data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and its report: "Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 Through 2013."

2Based on the number of models by automotive brand that earn a TOP SAFETY PICK or TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for model year 2014.

3Longevity based on IHS Automotive, Polk U.S. vehicles in operation registration statistics 1988-2012 for Honda and non-luxury competing brands.